How You Can Live a Meaningful Life and Overcome Self-Hate in 2022

So many people long to be a part of something that has meaning. Thankfully, Scripture aligns with this longing, setting us up perfectly to live a meaningful life.

So much has transpired in the past two years. A global pandemic, social justice issues, cultural unrest, and governmental discord, to name a few. Tension has filled all of us. But, I believe many are ready to set some things in order and put the enemy in his place! It’s time to step into meaning and purpose in 2022.

As we come into the first 100 days of 2022, let’s maximize our relationship with God, setting things in motion that will not only change this year but generations to come.

Do you have a sin that you struggle with over and over again?

Offense?

Anger?

Maybe it’s the lack of discipline to control your mouth, and gossip flows freely?

You are not alone if you answered “Yes,” to any of those questions. We all have sins we struggle with repeatedly. Even Paul, a pillar of faith, credited with penning two-thirds of the New Testament, struggled, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15 NLT)

Does that describe you sometimes? “I do what I hate.”

Of course, it does. It describes all of us, some of us more often than others. And, the more often it describes us, the more we struggle with shame, condemnation, and guilt. Why? Because of what sin is:

…sin is lawlessness.

- 1 John 3:4 (NKJV)

We sin when we break the law of God. Simply put, that law is found in the Old Testament and prioritized through the Ten Commandments. But, Jesus helps us understand which commandments are the greatest,

1. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy mind, and all thy soul.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Simply put, we sin when we do not love God or love people.

We feel shame because as soon as we break the Law of God, the enemy becomes the voice in our head, shaming and condemning us.

What a twisted creature. The enemy wants us to fail God’s law and does everything he can to get us to do so. Then he is there to celebrate our sins and make us feel awful the moment we become a law-breaker. He isolates us from God and then accuses us of distancing ourselves. This cycle repeatedly continues because we continue to do what we hate, sinning against God and His people and allowing the enemy to keep us buried in the conscience of guilt.

How do we break free? How do we overcome self-hate associated with sinfulness? How do we overcome our hurts, habits, and hangups? Why do we keep doing what we do?

First, look at what James said:

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

-James 1:14 (NKJV)

The reason we sin, breaking the law of God, is because every single one of us fights against temptation. Our temptations arise due to our fleshly desires. We want something outside of God’s law and will. These desires that the enemy uses as bait to draw us away from God through acts of temptation always fit into one of three categories:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. - 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)

1. LUST of the FLESH- I want a feeling that I don’t currently have.

We become sinful with our appetite in all areas of life, from gluttony to adultery. This is why we struggle with addiction. It’s a feeling – the lust of the flesh, the desire of the flesh – that pulls us away from God.

2. LUST of the EYES - I see something more that I want.

This is how we wind up in debt to the point we declare bankruptcy or with more than we can manage. We want everything we see and more too. The enemy keeps pointing out what we don’t have to blind us to the contentment available in what we do have.

3. PRIDE OF LIFE - I deserve something more, and I desire it because I am entitled to it.

We count ourselves worthy and deserving, and we take what we want when we want it. It’s why people cheat, steal, bend the rules and tell white lies. We struggle with a worldly mindset of entitlement that tells us we “deserve something more” than what we are presently getting.

But, there is good news!

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. -1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

You are not the only one facing these three categories of temptation – everyone faces them! But here’s the good news, there is a way of escape. We just need to learn how to talk like Jesus! To break free of sin and lawlessness and free yourself from temptation and ungodly desires… you are going to have to tell the enemy to get behind you! Learn to talk back to the devil:

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” - Luke 4:8 (NKJV)

You don’t have to live in a perpetual cycle of defeat.

It's time to live a meaningful life, putting Hell in its place. It's time to start walking out the purpose God has for us, and as we come into the first 100 days of 2022, set things in motion that will not only change this year but generations to come. Start telling the enemy to get behind us! Inform the enemy, he can no longer block God’s vision for your life. And, you are going to be hearing more about this in the days and posts to come, but my challenge to you, going into the first 100 days of this new year: Live a more meaningful life by intensifying your pursuit of God through prayer, fasting, and studying God’s Word.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/HvAtVLLroEM

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.
   

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.
   

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin
   

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

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This Is How to Make Sure You Have God in Every Good Work

Scripture says that a man who will not work should not eat and that a man who will not work to provide for his family is worse than an infidel. Obviously, Scripture reveals that God has powerful feelings towards those who work and those who don't!

Paul, the source of much of Scripture’s comments about work, also provided this commentary, “May you walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in EVERY GOOD WORK and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)

Every good work, the phrase is used eight to ten times in the New Testament. And, if there is good work, then doesn’t that labeling also reveal there must be the possibility for bad work? So consider some things with me…

Have you ever thought about the fact that the installation of work took place before Man committed his first sin? Thus, work is not a byproduct of sin. Instead, God exemplifies His word being at work through His power of Creation. God made man in His image and assigned him to work. It was only on the other side of man’s failure that work became associated with toil, pain, and the agony of battling thorns and thistles.

It seems quite clear -- as one merges the Old Testament and New Testament’s contextual statements on the subject of work -- God expects us to be people who will work for His purposes through ministerial endeavors.

Don’t get anything confused with all of this discussion about work. We do not gain entry into Heaven or receive salvation from our sin due to our works. We can only be saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, lest any man could boast. Jesus’ death on the cross and His bloodshed remitted our sins! No amount of fleshly work can reconcile us to God. That miracle can only happen by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. However, we exemplify our faith by being people who work, not just in industry and secular society, but by working in our assignment in Christ’s plan for humanity’s salvation.

Here is what I believe GOD wants...

1. YOUR ZEAL CAN BE RESTORED.

Throughout the New Testament, Paul is a beautiful encourager of good works and what God wants, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that...we should live godly in the present age, looking for the ... glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might… purify for Himself His own special people, ZEALOUS for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

When there is a zeal inside of you to do good work, you are one of God’s special people. God deposits a zeal inside of us so that we may go out and do good works! And, Jesus taught us that when we do good works on earth, those works shine a light into the dark places that result in people beginning to glorify God. So, there is light associated with your good work!

The PROBLEM throughout human history’s timeline is that people tend to lean more towards being defiled, “...to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and DISQUALIFIED for every good work.” Titus 1:15-16 NKJV)

God wants to be in your good works! He wants to light up the world through your good works. BUT so many people disqualify themselves because they would instead do works of the flesh rather than works of the Spirit. Disqualification is a real issue!

The SOLUTION, according to Paul, you are qualified by God to do good works.

2. YOU ARE QUALIFIED.

Giving thanks to the Father who has QUALIFIED us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light… - Colossians 1:12 (NKJV)

The grace of Jesus Christ qualifies you! It doesn’t matter which sin may have disqualified you. Through Jesus, you are forgiven and able to be a part of good works on earth. Through shame, condemnation, guilt, and wrongful accusations, DO NOT let the enemy tell you that you are disqualified. This is a lie! You can be qualified to do good works through salvation!

Why would God QUALIFY us?

3. YOU CAN BE FRUITFUL.

Because He wants to use you! He is looking for laborers, and He wants to be in your good works, “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being FRUITFUL in every good work…” (Colossians 1:10 NKJV)

There is a harvest of people just waiting to be reached and brought into a relationship with God, but Jesus is short on laborers. This reality is not a new issue. The Kingdom of Heaven has needed laborers for over 2,000 years… Consider the promise that the house of the Lord is filled when God’s laborers go and compel the lost to come in. God has chosen not to be responsible for all the work-- He wants us to help Him build the church! God provides the blueprints, and we do the laborer through the might of His strength released in us and through us.

We must live compelling lives! We are qualified through grace to be fruitful in every good work and please the Lord. God is pleased when people are productive. He wants to see us winning souls to Jesus Christ. He wants to see us loving Him and loving others! He wants to see us lighting up the world!

4. YOU CAN INCREASE IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

Look at this verse again, “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being FRUITFUL in every good work and increasing in the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.” (Colossians 1:10 NKJV)

Are you increasing in the knowledge of God? This advancement is incredibly important if you desire to be fruitful in your life.

How can you increase in your KNOWLEDGE OF GOD so that your work for Him can be more FRUITFUL?

How can you make sure that you’ve God in it?

The answer might surprise you...

Take time to rest in God.

We have a philosophy that we work to rest, but that’s not how God created man. God modeled that man would rest in the work of Heaven in the book of Genesis, as God’s 7th day was Man’s first day. That means, the first day that Man was alive, he rested with God. Perhaps, they spent time restfully observing and enjoying the wonder of all the work God had done!

Understand that life is not just about work, work, work...but more about starting from a place of rest in a relationship with God and letting Him show you everything He can do, wants to do, and is capable of doing in your life. We all need time and space to see what God can do!

Structure your life, so you work from rest, not work to rest. Even Jesus modeled this example in His ministry by stating that any work He did on the Earth, He had first seen His Father reveal to Him during prayer times. Take time to rest and sync up with God so that God can be in your life. I like to think of it in this way, Get alone with God, get the download from Heaven’s Word for your life, and then update your life’s plans with God’s word. The result is that you will be a lot more effective in EVERY GOOD WORK!

5. YOU CAN BE EQUIPPED.

We must be EQUIPPED through God’s Word! “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly EQUIPPED for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

All Scripture is given by God so that you can become thoroughly equipped for every good work! Set aside time to be with the Lord, to partake of the Word of God. Celebrate your qualification to do His work. Allow God to place a zeal in you to do His good work and be fruitful and pleasing to God.

6. YOU CAN BE ESTABLISHED.

And, never forget the only reason that you can be EQUIPPED is that you have been ESTABLISHED through JESUS, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ...who has loved us and given us… good hope by grace… ESTABLISH you in every good work…” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV)

God wants to give you a firm foundation to do good works, but you must first have a relationship with Jesus. It is through Jesus that you are qualified, equipped, and established. If you want God in it, you have to know Jesus!

→ ALL OF YOUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED.

I leave you with one final verse from the wisest man to ever live outside of Jesus Christ Himself, Solomon. He stated this sobering truth, “For God will bring every work into JUDGMENT, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NKJV)

Your works can not earn you salvation, but there are rewards in Heaven based on our good works. It is never too late to start storing up your treasures in Heaven...It is never too late to let God use you to spread light and compel the lost…Because of Grace, it is never too late to be who you might have been!

YOU can be used to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

There is so much more included in this message when engaged in its entirety, and I hope you will give it a listen. You can view this message here: https://youtu.be/jv1LNAAAjLo

Here are a few things to evaluate in your life:

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus and get your life back on the path God has called you to? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Are you giving enough attention to what God wants to do in you and through you? BEGIN may be the place for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Do you need your zeal for God’s good works restored in your life? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES

You Can’t Miss This One Thing That Will Bring Wholeness to Your Life...

Do you look like what you’ve been through?

Does your marriage, business, or bank account look like what it's been through?

Does your walk with God look like what it’s been through?

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well (whole).” Luke 17:12-19 (NKJV)

Leprosy is a disease that causes horrible skin sores. One of the symptoms of the disease is reduced sensation of touch, leaving a feeling of numbness and a "pins and needles" sensation over the affected body part. Due to these sensations, it was typical for someone suffering from this horrible illness to rub and scratch at the sores until parts of their body fell off. A leper could lose his nose, ears, or fingers and toes, yet not even fully realize the loss until another body part was gone. The result of this wretched cycle left most lepers disfigured. (References drawn from medicalnewstoday.com).

Often when you see leprosy mentioned in Scripture, it is a type and a shadow of sin:

• The same way LEPROSY works in the physical, SIN works in the spiritual.

When sin begins to function in our souls, it has a way of numbing us to its consequences, and we stop feeling the actual repercussions. Sin can cause us to lose things in our lives without us realizing it. Leprosy tends to disfigure people, and so does sin. Sin will mar your life, relationships, and things that you value the most.

Are there parts of your life that are disfigured? If so, there is a possibility that you have allowed sin to run undiagnosed in your life, and any disfigurement you see could be a direct result.

Another important observation, leprosy is contagious, but sometimes it lays dormant within a body for many years before manifesting symptoms of the disease. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the disfiguring disease breaks out across one's body. This pattern is the same in sin. You can hang out in sinful environments for years before sin reveals EXTERNALLY what it has been doing INTERNALLY. The result is that the disfigurement may appear seemingly overnight, but it was on a path to manifestation many years before the damage was visible.

In the Scriptures above, we see that Jesus is the answer for leprosy. The lepers seek Him out for restoration and healing! JESUS gave these ten men clear commands to follow, and as they began to walk out His commands, they were healed. Through Jesus, the lepers were cleansed entirely of their disfiguring disease! But, only one out of ten came back to Jesus after receiving the cleansing.

One leper returned, worshiping and praising the name of Jesus. He gave Him all the praise and all the glory! His heart was full of gratitude for what Jesus had done for him, and that Word of God had a cleansing effect in his life. That which was once an issue was no longer an issue. The struggle was concluded!

Jesus looked at this one who had returned and said, “Arise...your faith has made you WHOLE!”

That’s an important statement from Jesus. Because during the first encounter with all ten lepers present, Jesus’ command facilitated a way for them to be CLEANSED. This time, engaging with the only leper that had returned to worship Him for His goodness and grace, Jesus states specifically that the man will be made WHOLE!

For a leper, there is a difference between being cleansed and being made whole. A leper that had been cleansed would no longer have an issue with leprosy, but anything he lost due to leprosy remained gone. However, if a leper were to be made whole, he would receive a restoration of everything he lost. For example, if leprosy cost him his nose, he would get his nose back. The same goes for any other physical extremity that he may have forfeited to the disease.

1. A CLEANSED leper would be set free from any struggle with his disease BUT remain disfigured. He would look like what he had been through.
   

2. A leper made WHOLE would be set free from his struggle AND no longer disfigured. He would NOT look like what he had been through!
   

Walk out the commands of God’s word and be CLEANSED but return to God daily with the revelation of worship if you want to be made WHOLE! You need your peace and joy restored. So return to the feet of Jesus and worship Him!

The revelation of worship can change your life. You can be made whole! You don’t have to look like what you’ve been through! Yet, evidently, very few people are willing to walk out the truth of the revelation of worship because -- of ten lepers who were cleansed -- only one was made whole. The reason...only one was willing to return and worship Jesus fully!

Will you BE THE ONE...The one in your family, church, small group, business relationships? Be the one who returns and lays at the feet of Jesus in worship with a heart of overflowing gratitude!

If you worship Him, you will experience God’s restoration ability! He will put you back together! He uses foolish things to confound the wise and weak things to confound the mighty! All you have to do is worship Him.

• It is great to walk out the Word of God and be cleansed as you go, but -- if you want to go to the next level with Jesus -- you first must fall on your face and worship Him.

Maybe, right now, you sense an unction to do just that; fall on your face and worship Jesus. Do it! Be the one! Choose to worship God without restraint or inhibition and watch as the things that were lost to the leprosy of sin are restored in ways that coincidence can not take the credit.

From a heart of repentance, thankfulness, and gratitude, speak this proclamation over your life:

The work of His grace and blood in my life are more than enough to overflow my heart with praise!

I do not look like what I’ve been through!

I’ve been made WHOLE through my worship.

JESUS CHRIST has completely restored me!

I invite you to view a message on this subject in its entirety, “You Don’t Look Like What You’ve Been Through”. Within it, I share some personal stories of God's restoration power that I believe can be a great encouragement to you.

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